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TUESDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2019
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134th YEAR ISSUE 34
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
MSU graduate identified as victim in Friday’s Aurora shooting KATIE POE
NEWS EDITOR
Josh Pinkard was a husband and father of three. He graduated from MSU in 2005.
One victim in the Aurora, Illinois, shooting Friday that killed five workers of a manufacturing plant was identified as Mississippi State University graduate and avid fan, Josh Pinkard. Pinkard, 37, was a plant manager at Henry Pratt and lived in Oswego, according to a report from the Chicago Tribune. Pinkard is originally from Holly Pond, Alabama. On Friday, Pinkard had sent a text to his wife Terra Pinkard saying, “I love you, I’ve been shot at work,” Terra wrote in a Facebook post. “It took me several times reading it for it to hit me that it was for real,” Terra wrote.
“I called his phone several times, text, FaceTime— nothing. I called his plant and a lady answered, and said she was barricaded in her room and police were everywhere. Of course my heart dropped.” Terra said she proceeded to get her children and drive to the plant, where she found police blocking the roads. Then, she went to the nearest hospitals, only to find her husband was not there. Waiting on some news of her husband, Terra was surrounded by her pastor, neighbors, chaplains and coworkers who held her hand. After contacting the Aurora Police Department, Terra found out about an area for victims’ families. PINKARD, 2
The Reflector earns awards at journalism conference STAFF REPORTS
Seven members of The Reflector staff took home nine awards at the 33rd annual Southeastern Journalism Conference. The conference, hosted by Middle Tennessee State University, took place Feb. 14-16 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where more than 30 universities submitted work and participated in on-site competitions. Writer Brandon Grisham, a sophomore business information systems major, received eighth place in Best Arts and Entertainment Writer. Junior psychology major Mary Madeline LaMastus, who ranked No. 1 Best Arts and Entertainment Writer, said she was surprised her name was called for this award. “I’m still a little stunned,” LaMastus said. “Writing about art is so fun for me, and it was just a cherry on top of the cake to be awarded publicly for something I personally love doing.” Photography Editor Courtney Carver, a junior communication major, received ninth place for Best News Writer for her coverage last semester. A d d i t i o n a l l y, sophomore English major Dylan Bufkin took home a ninth place award for Best Opinion Writer. In the Best Special Event Reporter category, senior English major and News Editor Katie Poe received second place. AWARDS, 2
Rick’s Cafe switching to sustainable materials The restaurant’s new straws, cups and to-go boxes are biodegradable are even faster to break down than their regular cups. These wax-based cups are strictly for water, and they have a unique design setting them apart. The design is a unique blue and purple swirl reminiscent of popular cups from the 1990’s. Out of the options that were polled with customers, these nostalgic cups were the most popular and are being implemented as soon as possible. The straws are a huge hit so far for Rick’s Cafe because of how well they fit the bar’s aesthetic. These new straws are made of hay for the country-themed bar. Out of the three new items, the straws are the easiest to break down. Lastly, Rick’s new togo boxes have a familiar look and are made from sugarcane. These containers are studier than styrofoam, and can hold more weight without breaking. Again, these are 100 percent biodegradable. Malorie Ross, a bartender at Rick’s, said the transition to these new materials has been seamless without issues. Along with the new items, Rick’s is also using and reusing more glass. Shot glasses, drink glasses and other miscellaneous glass items are being brought in to maintain their new agenda. Bringing in this much glass, along with the new cups and straws, has not been cheap for Rick’s. Being the first bar to implement these things is a big risk. “Right now, we’re on the heavy side of the wave, and once we change our behaviors and get used to this… it will get cheaper,” Handran said. Rick’s Cafe participating in the eco-friendly movement hopes others will join the cause to make the world a better place in Starkville and nationwide.
DREW GARDNER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Rick’s Cafe made the change to sustainable resources from plastic materials over the last couple of months. Plastic is convenient and inexpensive, but it ends up harming a significant portion of our wildlife, and Rick’s Cafe is leading its business toward a more eco-friendly operation. Ryan Handran, general manager of Rick’s Cafe, said the idea came from a meeting he and Rick Welch had over Christmas break to determine what they could improve. Welch, being an animal lover and president of the local Oktibbeha County Humane Society, proposed the idea of making the switch to reusable and recyclable material. Many have seen the damage done to these animals near the coastline, and Rick’s Cafe is hoping to help put an end to it. While the plastics in the inventory are disposed, Rick’s Cafe is currently in the process of introducing new straws, cups and to-go boxes that are all biodegradable. These items consist of compostable cups, wax-based water cups, hay straws and sugarcane boxes. The regular drinking cups are made from a plantbased biopolymer and are compostable. These cups break down in sunlight, or if they are left outside. The cups are not necessarily designed to break down in a home compost pile, but they can break down just about everywhere else. Even though they are ecofriendly, these cups are even sturdier and more practical than before. Rick’s new water cups also have a new design and
Lany Wallace | The Reflector
Senior right-handed pitcher Peyton Plumlee pitches two innings of the opening game on Feb. 15 at the Dudy Noble Field. MSU defeated Youngstown State 14-3 in the teamʼs first game in the new Dudy Noble Stadium. Read the full story on Page 6.
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
HI: 50 LO: 48 SKY: Rain POP: 90
HI: 70 LO: 51 SKY: Rain POP: 90
HI: 60 LO: 49 SKY: Rain POP: 80
FORECAST: We will have ample moisture move into Northeast Mississippi over the next three days. Because of the increase in moisture we’ll have high rain chances all three days. Expect to receive several inches of rain. The rain will continue for the next seven days reaching a total of close to 7 inches of rain. Temperatures will remain mild for the next few days.
Kris Hudson, Campus Connect Meteorologist
Rosalind Hutton
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BAD DAWGS The Reflector
Members of The Reflector staff attended this year’s Southeastern Journalism Conference in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Their awards included placements in categories such as Best News Writer, Best Opinion Writer and College Journalist of the Year.
Poe also received second place for College Journalist of the Year, as well as for an on-site competition in design and page layout. In the copy editing on-site category, senior communication major and Managing Editor Kristina Domitrovich earned third place. Domitrovich said she was grateful to represent The Reflector well in her last semester at MSU. “Placing in the onsight competitions is really gratifying, and I think it’s a great way for each of our
contestants to represent The Reflector,” Domitrovich said. “For me personally, it’s not a win for me—it’s a win for the paper. Since I graduate in May, that’s all I wanted at this year’s SEJC: to represent The Reflector well and bring back as many wins as we could.” Domitrovich explained how the hard work of The Reflector staff was reflected in their winnings during the conference. “I don’t think people always realize how much we put into the paper, so getting recognition at these
PINKARD “I don’t know how my body drove itself there, but it did,” Terra wrote. “The police told us there were fatalities. He read my husband’s name. I immediately left and went to get my kids. With my pastor’s help, since family was still on planes to get to us, I told my children their dad did not make it and is in heaven with Jesus. I’ve never had to do something that hard.” Terra described Pinkard as her best friend and an incredibly smart person. She praised his thoughtfulness to send her a text during the shooting. “The man who was dying and found the clarity of mind for just a second to send me one last text to let me know he would always love me,” Terra wrote. “This unbelievable person was robbed from us.” Pinkard obtained his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from MSU in 2005, and was also a member of the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College. Pinkard went on to complete a master’s degree from the University
conferences is always a really gratifying feeling,” Domitrovich said. Sports Editor Hunter Cloud also competed and placed in an on-site competition, winning third place for sports writing. Editor-in-Chief Emmalyne Kwasny shared her pride for The Reflector staff ’s dedication to serving the MSU community. “I am so proud of The Reflector staff for all of their hard work over the past year, and I’m so thankful they were affirmed at SEJC,” Kwasny said.
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of Arkansas last year. The Tribune reported Pinkard’s family described him as a God-loving, family-loving and MSUloving man.
meeting in which he was terminated from his job at Henry Pratt Co., according to authorities. The suspected gunman, Gary Martin, 45, was illegally
“Mississippi State University extends our sympathy and prayers for his family and friends and for the community that has suffered this terrible tragedy.” - Sid Salter, MSU Chief Communications Off icer MSU released a statement Monday morning describing its sorrow for the loss of one of its graduates. “The MSU family mourns the loss of our beloved alum, who also was a beloved husband and father,” said Sid Salter, MSU chief communications officer. “Mississippi State University extends our sympathy and prayers for his family and friends and for the community that has suffered this terrible tragedy.” The other victims in Friday’s shooting were 32-year-old Clayton Parks, 21-year-old Trevor Wehner, 47-year-old Russell Beyer and 54-year-old Vicente Juarez. The Aurora shooting occurred after an employee opened fire following a
possessing the gun he used to kill the victims and wound five police officers. Martin was killed by police after the shootout. According to a Washington Post article, authorities recently revealed that in January 2014 Martin obtained an Illinois Firearm Owner’s Identification Card, despite his felony record after a domestic abuse charge in 1994. Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman told reporters Martin would not necessarily have appeared on a criminal background check before he was issued the card. Later, Martin bought a handgun and applied for a concealed carry permit, at which time officials discovered his felony conviction due to fingerprinting. His application was rejected and his FOID card revoked, but the Washington Post reported there is no indication authorities confiscated his gun.
Friday, Feb. 8, 2019 • Student arrested on University Drive in Starkville for minor in possession of alcohol and possession of a fake I.D.
another student in Critz Hall. Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019 • Student arrested on Stone Boulevard for public drunkenness. Justice Court citation and referral issued.
Monday, Feb. 11, 2019 • Non-Resident/Visitor arrested on R. L. Jones • Student arrested on Barr Avenue for Circle for first DUI. disregarding a traffic • Student transported device, no seatbelt to OCH from Sessums and first DUI. Justice Court citations and Hall for medical referral issued. assistance. Student issued arrest • Non-resident/ citation in Starkville for minor in possession visitor issued a postarrest citation on of alcohol. Stone Boulevard for possession of Tuesday, Feb. 12, marijuana. 2019 • Officer retrieved • Student arrested on a student I.D. card from guest services at Stone Boulevard for improper equipment Humphrey Coliseum. and first DUI. • Student reported • Non-Resident/ receiving harassing messages via text and visitor arrested on Stone Boulevard for social media from a improper equipment, colleague. minor in possession of alcohol, possession of • Student was beer in a dry county involved in a hit and DUI. Justice Court and run in the Wise citations issued. Center’s parking lot. Justice Court citation Sunday, Feb. 17, issued. 2019 • Student hit multiple • Employee reported items stolen from Nusz bollards, a short post used to diverge Softball stadium. or block traffic, on Barr Avenue causing • Student’s vehicle caused damages to the damages to his vehicle. EMTs were median in parking lot called. Citation issued B7 after being stuck. for leaving the scene. Friday, Feb. 14, Visit reflector-online. 2019 com for more notable • Student reported traffic citations. being threatened by
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ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY...
An In-Class Distraction
… in 1847, the first rescue party reached the surviving members of the Donner Party—a group of emigrants stranded in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, attempting to get to California. In the summer of 1846, joining the Western-bound fever, 89 people set out in a wagon train from Springfield, Illinois. The group included 31 members from the Donner and Reed families. When the emigrants arrived at Fort Bridger, Wyoming, the group decided to avoid the typical route most travelers took, and instead followed a recently created trail made by Lansford Hastings, the “Hastings Cutoff.” The group elected George Donner as their captain. This route decision would set the Donner party back almost three weeks, and cost the travelers many supplies. The travelers left Wyoming in mid-July, and reached the Sierra Nevada Mountains in early October. On Oct. 28, they camped at Truckee Lake for the night. During the night, an early winter storm attacked the travelers, blocking the mountain pass and trapping the Donner Party. Most of the group stayed near the Truckee Lake, now known as Donner Lake. However, the Donner family and a handful of others made camp six miles away at Alder Creek. This group built makeshift tents out of their wagons, and killed their oxen for food. They hoped for a thaw that would never come. Fifteen of the stronger emigrants set out on snowshoes for Sutter’s Fort on Dec. 16, and would become known as the Forlorn Hope. Three weeks later, harsh weather and a lack of supplies led the expedition to resort to cannibalism. Seven survivors reached a Native American village. The group’s news spread to Sutter’s Fort quickly, and people learned of the Donner Party’s stranded predicament. A rescue party set out on Jan. 31. Twenty days later, the rescue squad found the camp completely snowbound. Survivors were elated at their rescue, and the rescuers were able to feed the starving group what little they could spare. They then began evacuating the survivors. The last of the survivors would not reach Sutter’s Fort until late April. Of the 89 members who set out, only 45 people in the Donner Party reached California. history.com
Feb. 15 puzzle solutions So, you think you know it all?
1. Who was awarded the first gold record? 2. Who ran for president of the U.S. with the campaign slogan, “A chicken in every pot and a car in every garage?” usefultrivia
1. Perry Como, 2. Herbert Hoover in 1928.
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CLASSIFIEDS HELP WANTED: Farm/yard projects. Flexible schedule. Farm, construction or landscaping experience best. Start in March and through summer. A fit for summer school. $10/hour and lunch. Call Phil Steele 662-418-3115. FOR SALE: Starkville Habitat for Humanity ReStore thrift store open Saturday, Feb. 16, from 8-11 a.m. Located at 1632 Rockhill Road in Starkville. Bargains on furniture, appliances, building
materials and more. The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday. The deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. Classifieds are listed at $5 per issue. Student and staff ads are listed at $3 per issue, pre-paid. Lost and found items: Found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed at standard ad cost. CLUB INFO The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday. The deadline for Friday’s paper is 3
student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email to managing@reflector. msstate.edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO,” or a form may be completed at The Reflector office in the Student Media Center. A contact name, phone number and requested run dates must be included for club info to appear in The Reflector. All submissions are subject to exemption according to space
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OPINION
Cheese fries should be made available in The Hump’s concession stands
RILEY STEPHENS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Crispy shoestring fries, lightly tossed in seasoning and thickly coated in rich layers of steamy, golden nacho cheese. The concept of the cheese fry is an ingenious idea combining two foods which appease the American taste bud: melted cheese and something fried. This simple food duo revolutionized concession stand menus, and a whole plate can be ordered at Davis Wade Stadium during football season for a mere $2. One of my favorite pastimes during fall semester was basking in the ambience of football hysteria and mouthwatering cheese fries. At the conclusion of this year’s football season, I was disheartened to realize I would no longer have an excuse to gorge myself with the beloved cheese fries. Gone were the Saturdays in Davis Wade where I could cheer on the Bulldogs, responsibly ring my cowbell with one hand and snack on cheese fries with the other, all whilst happily forgetting any stressors from academic responsibilities. With the realization of the incoming basketball season, I assumed my cheese fry withdrawal would
Rosalind Hutton
be satiated. Much to my dismay, fries were not sold at the basketball games, and this dilemma is one that needs to be addressed and hopefully changed. As much fun as basketball games are, the introduction of cheese fries to the concession stand menu would be an addition that would
make the experience more worthwhile. Nachos are a signature staple of quick concessions, but the cheese fry is steadily gaining ground. Concession stands across the United States, whether at the professional or college level, include cheese fries on their menus, indicating a clear trend among the masses of sports
fans, particularly college students. The New Orleans Saints’s menu has chili cheese fries, but you can also purchase regular seasoned fries for $5.75 and add cheese for an extra $2.50. Therefore, Saints’s concession stand menu allows fans to purchase cheese fries for $8.25
versus MSU’s famous ‘FanFocused Pricing’ of $2. In stating this, I think we should take advantage of the opportunity to have access to relatively cheap cheese fries by expanding the Hump’s concession menu. Both the Perry and Fresh Foods serve shoestring fries, so if French fries are common at these usual
MSU dining areas, why not also serve fries at the basketball games? Nachos are already available at basketball games, so the cheese is already in place. All that is missing is the fries. In terms of finance, I think the university would benefit from the addition of fries to the Hump’s concession stand menu, based on its high demand at the university cafeterias. Since French fries are so frequent at the Perry and Fresh, it would only make sense to put cheese fries on the basketball concession stand menu. Even with the fanfocused pricing of $2 cheese fries, there are significant financial gains. A 30-pound bulk of fries may be bought for $19.98 from Sam’s Club. According to Your Grocer, this 30-pound bulk contains six five-pound bags and serves 80 six-ounce servings in total, so with all the numbers laid out, the university ultimately obtains an 87.5% profit. While I may be an overzealous cheese fry advocate, the statistics clearly speak for themselves, and cheese fries are definitely the way to go in terms of the university benefiting financially, and for students like me having their desperate hankering for cheese fries fulfilled.
Trivia Time! 1. In Frank Baum’s novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” on which
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the film is based, what color are Dorothy’s slippers?
Theodor Seuss Geisel
2. What song from the Disney film “Coco” won the 2018 Academy
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”
Award for Best Original Song? 3. What is the largest country located entirely in Europe? 4. How many teams are in the American National Football league? Source: trivia.fyi
Answer: 1. silver 2. “Remember Me” 3. Ukraine 4. 32 teams
K-Pop is more than just a music genre, it is an experience
BELLA SCHNARS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Korean Pop, also known as K-Pop, is genre of music that has quickly spread across the globe, growing increasingly popular in America. K-Pop artists even came to American music awards to receive an award for the first time in history. According to BillBoard, K-pop group BTS’s album “Love Yourself: Tear” was “the first primarily foreignlanguage No. 1 album in over 12 years” on American charts. K-Pop, despite sounding like it would consist of only pop music, actually encompasses many different genres such as hip-hop, jazz and R&B. Many popular K-Pop artists are also now making American tours such as BTS, BlackPink and Stray Kids, showing the everincreasing popularity of the genre. K-pop has become a way for people to interact with each other and forge friendships to last a lifetime. Its sudden increase in popularity has aided in this, as among many of my friends who liked K-pop
before it was popular, it was very difficult to talk about their favorite music or find a good conversation topic with strangers as most people thought it was weird, and would look down on people who liked it. According to Joanna Chen of SBS, since it began getting popular, more people are listening to the genre and are willing to talk about it, also helping shy people come together with others of the same interests. Since it began getting popular, more people are listening to the genre and are willing to talk about it. K-pop has enabled people to feel companionship over something as small as celebrating their favorite artists’ birthday, and to never feel like they are truly alone. With the creation of K-pop, music videos and dance practice videos followed suit, providing another way for people in the community to interact with one other. Most, if not all, K-pop groups have a storyline intertwined with their music, with things like time travel and dystopian clans telling a story as a video alongside the music. This has given many fans
Rosalind Hutton
a chance to work together and theorize on what the whole story is, helping people connect. Dance practices have given people an opportunity to learn the dances to their favorite songs they love. My friends and I learn dances in our free time, and
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group formed with no Koreans in it, people will lash out and put down things they do not consider fitting the mold, as reported by Yvette Tan of BBC. Most people who do not have a deeper understanding or connection with the fandom will only see this
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Life Editor/Emma Moffett
Managing Editor/Kristina Domitrovich News Editor/Katie Poe
it is a fun way to hang out while getting some exercise. Most fandoms will have discourse or fan wars, the concept is not new. It is easy to stumble upon some kind of discourse online, and K-pop is no exception. Just like with the band EXP Edition, a K-pop
discourse and shy away from it. Meanwhile, the ones who are involved in the discourse just get the spotlight and give everyone a bad name. K-pop is a very popular genre, with over 35 million hardcore fans around the world, so it makes sense that there will be a few bad apples in the bunch. However, most of the fandom is exceptionally loving and open to new fans, some even go as far to help you ease into the music genre and fandom themselves. Considering how popular the music genre is becoming and how many people around the world listen to it, there must be some reason why fans like the idols so much, despite never having met them or even sharing a language with them in many cases. The answer—the idols genuinely care for their fans. They constantly remind their fan base they would not be as successful today if it was not for their efforts to see them succeed. The genre has produced some of the most beautiful and intense music I have heard, and everyone should give the music a chance.
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Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector. msstate.edu. Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.
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‘Happy Death Day 2 You’ fails its predecessor JACK WEEKS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I have a soft spot for cheesy horror flicks where the singular goal is to entertain the audience. Last year, when I watched “Happy Death Day,” I enjoyed it so much it ended up taking space on my shelf. The original follows the protagonist, Tree, in a “Groundhog Day”-style slasher in which every time she is killed, her day restarts. The initial premise is nothing special, but the movie does some great things that seem pretty original. “Happy Death Day 2 U” had big shoes to fills. “Happy Death Day 2 U’s” story is just alright. We follow Tree again as she relives the same day from the original film with some slight variations. These variations lead to a moral conundrum which, at first, seems interesting, but as the plot plays out, it is used as a crutch to drive
some kind of emotion from the audience. By the time we reach the climax, it becomes tiring. Where the original focused on the mystery of who the killer is, “Happy Death Day 2 U” allows horror to take the backseat, generally focusing on walking around dark hallways with a weapon, building up to fake jump scares and cutting quickly to the killer standing behind the character. Where horror has taken the backseat, the film doubles down on the aspect of comedy, which, when it it hits, is phenomenal. This movie is often best when it stays in its lane, allowing the audience to be entertained by dialogue and over-the-top scenarios with small bits of slapstick to mix it up. The moments of emotion early on are great, and the characters are believable, which allows the audience to build a small amount of camaraderie with them. The changes in the
Rosalind Hutton
universe allow us to see another evolution of Tree and put the audience in the position of figuring out what they would do in that scenario. Sadly, this is really the only kind of character development we get in a
movie that introduces so many new characters. The movie is at its worst when it tries to get smart, both in the aspect of timetravel and the multiverse theory, as well as fourthwall breaking moments. It
is here where the film asks the audience to suspend their disbelief a bit too much, often ending in groans. There is something about the way the time loop was approached and Tree’s
reaction seemingly takes away from the charm of the first film. As far as technicals go, there is nothing standout. We have the same cinematography we have seen in movie after movie, mediocre editing that often gives twists in the story away before its intended, and acting that is okay for an MTV flick, but not theaters. The movie is just alright. It tries to do a lot, which causes it to succeed in very little. The mid-credits scene closes an arc from the beginning of the movie, but feels shoehorned, as if they forgot they needed to end it and just did a quick reshoot. Visually, it does nothing great, and it is a story that had potential if they had rewritten it a few more times. I would not feel right telling you to rush out to see it, but there is some entertainment here, so possibly catch it OnDemand or Redbox. Final Verdict: C-.
Review: 12th annual Poetry and Song Program highlighted MSU talent EMMA DRAY BRASWELL STAFF WRITER
Mississippi State University’s Department of Music’s 12th annual Poetry and Song Program, codirected by MSU instructor Karen Murphy and MSU professor emeritus Nancy Hargrove, filled Old Main Academic Center’s Turner A. Wingo Auditorium with
audience to see deeper into the work. Still, much of the commentary consisted of an explanation of the poem itself rather than the poet’s background, which was unnecessary since a poem or song is not meant to be interpreted the same way twice. The choir got up after the commentary and
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an astounding amount of talent, song after song. This concert was not like what most college students would think when they hear ‘concert.’ It did not feature popular artists or any headline band. Instead, the concert last Tuesday was a mixture of a choir singing and soloists, as well as several feature instruments like the cello, piano and clarinet. The concert mostly consisted of several poems turned into songs, as well as numbers from musicals like “The King and I” and “The Sound of Music.” Before every song, Hargrove provided commentary, which sometimes explained the song’s background, while other times explained the song’s meaning. In the first section of the performance, she explained one of the main poet’s backstory and life, which gave light to some of the song’s meanings and allowed the
performed their song, and while everyone in the choir seemed to hit the notes for the most part, the lower voices were brought out a perfect amount. Their voices were impressive, and they harmonized better than I expected initially. This section of the choir definitely brought the performance to a whole new level. The costume designer also did a good job. In all of my experience working with a large group of performers, there is the tendency to make everyone look the same rather than making them look nice. However, the simple black dresses paired with the red scarves added to the mood of the show. Later, with the soloists, the classic dresses worn were very professional, and in the last part of the show, the costumes designed for the funnier performances certainly fit the role well. I was very impressed
will all of the musicians, but most of all with the oboist Jessica Haislip, an MSU lecturer and oboe instructor. It is very difficult to play the oboe and actually sound good. Most do not know the instrument well enough to fully understand how much this is true. However, when an oboist successfully plays the instrument, they tend to be phenomenal, as Haislip proved. Soon after this section was over, Hargrove stood to speak about the next few songs. While I understand a need for this part to an extent, good music can express just about everything said during this part of the commentary. This music was good and performed by talented individuals, but it was overshadowed and not allowed to speak for itself. I would much rather hear someone explain the writer’s life and how it connects than explain what the lines mean. Not only was this portion of the show slightly disruptive, but the lighting was confusing and annoying. While some parts of the show were well lit, in other parts I was only seeing eyebrows and foreheads, which is an issue when someone is trying to keep their audience’s attention. Despite this, most, if not all of the soloists up next, had such incredible voices that the show could have been set in a pitch black room. Though I am not a huge fan of opera, most of these people had the range to effectively perform the pieces, which is one of the highest compliments I can give. In all honesty, the talent radiating off many of these soloists is much more than a number of people who rose to fame because of their singing. Not only could these students hit the notes of the songs, but they performed past that, really stealing the show away. MSU senior Darbie Woods, a soloist student who was also in the choir performances, sang the song “Pierrot.” Woods told how before she got on stage she was nervous about forgetting a verse, but once she was up there she said she “turned around and looked at my pianist and inhaled,” which calmed her. She then went on to say, “it just flowed when it happened, and it was really fun.” The commentary on the next writer of the pieces sung was again interesting at first, and then lengthy and exhausting toward the
end. For this section, it was hard to enjoy the songs. While they were meant to be funny, the audience had already heard everything that was going to happen in the songs, which made them bland. Still, the performers did a good job with their pieces. The performance on “Honey Bun” from the Broadway play “South Pacific” was hilarious, despite the commentary. The lyrics when combined with costumes of a man
dressed up in a coconut bra with lipstick on made the performance truly shine. This was, without a doubt, one of the best performances of the night, since the performers visibly put their hearts into it to make it amusing. There were also a few songs from “The Sound of Music” performed, all of which were skillfully done. MSU sophomore Kailyn Naquin, who sang “My Favorite Things,” was especially talented. While
these songs were based on the Broadway production, I love the movie, and therefore, I was comparing this singer to Julie Andrews, and Naquin did remarkably well. Overall, these performances were outstanding, and while there were some negative qualities of the 12th Poetry and Song Program, this annual event was really worth attending, especially for someone who loves the art form of music.
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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019 @SPORTSREFLECTOR
SPORTS
Baseball swings through opponent in opening weekend MEGAN TERRY STAFF WRITER
A gloomy afternoon with clouds blanketing the Mississippi sky was not enough to keep the Mississippi State University and the Youngstown State University fans from supporting their teams in the MSU home opener. MSU swept the opening weekend. Ethan Small, a junior left-handed pitcher from Lexington, Tennessee, had one walk in game one. Small kept throwing strikes, showing fans from the first game that he is ready to help take the Bulldogs to a Championship this season. Following game one, Small said there is more of an emphasis on throwing strikes this season— something he struggled with in previous seasons. “Its like attack the zone, if they hit it they hit it,” Small said. “Throw fastballs for strikes aggressively in the bottom of the zone, and let the rest take care of itself.” Small said his confidence in his team has grown and he did not doubt them once. He said he expected them to pull through for a win, despite MSU trailing at one point 3-0.
Rosalind Hutton
“If there’s anything I know about our offense is that it’s going to come around eventually,” Small said. “And as a starting pitcher, there was never a moment where I doubted them.” New head coach Chris Lemonis said he was pleased with Small’s performance in the first game, even though he could tell Small had some extra energy starting off. “I thought he (Small) was really good, especially early,” Lemonis said. “I think he was excited early, so he kind of ran out of gas a little bit, but really command the fast ball.” Lemonis also said opening day was awesome, but he is ready to focus in on baseball and his coaching. “Just getting the stadium going, opening day, my first game, the kids first day—a lot of mental things,” Lemonis said. “The kids did a great job getting through that. I want to get out there
and play the game and coach.” MSU got a leg up on YSU early on in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader and the second of the series. JT Ginn, a freshman right-handed pitcher from Brandon, stayed on the mound until the sixth inning, with a total of 68 pitches as he lead the team to a 14-2 victory in his first career start. “It was everything I imagined it would be and more,” Gunn said. “It was good to get out there and get my first start and it was fun.” Tanner Allen also lead the team in hitting as he drove in nine runs and did not strike out in nine plate appearances in the game.
Rosalind Hutton
“I was just taking advantage with what they gave me,” Allen said. Jordan Westburg, a sophomore infielder from New Braunfels, Texas, said is was truly special to open the finished stadium with success. “It’s exactly what you dream about opening day at the new Dude–the atmosphere was awesome, even though it wasn’t the best weather out, the fans showed up, we really appreciate that,” Westburg said. The ball sprung off the bat as Hayden Jones, a freshman from Huntertown, Indiana, sent his first hit over the right field fence in the final game of Mississippi State University’s opening series against Youngstown State University as MSU won 8-0. “I don’t even remember the pitch coming in, I just remember swinging and making contact,” Jones said. “The ball went up and it was an unbelievable moment with the guys. The fans went crazy, it was just an experience to live through—it was unbelievable.” Home runs are special because they are so hard to come by, and they are even more rare as a first hit
Kelly Donoho| MSU Communications
Hayden Jones rounds third base celebrating his first career home run as a Bulldog on Saturday.
of someone’s career. Jones defied those odds as he sent it into the stands in right field. “Just having Jake (Mangum) talking to me before,” Jones said. “He was like, ‘Hey, you are going to get your first hit.’ It was one of those positive things with all of those guys there for you.” Jones said he was not as nervous playing in front of
a big crowd as he thought he was going to be. As Jones rounded the bases, he was greeted by a special light display MSU uses to celebrate home runs. “I was halfway to second and I was like, ‘Okay lights are about to go,’” Jones said. “You hit second base and it is ‘wow.’ I remember smiling a cheese right when I turned third. It was an experience for sure.”
“We have a great culture, and I think she brings a lot to that. She’s fun and she has a great personality. She seems to love and add to the team feel, the family feeling we bring here,” Greenan said. “That’s what we have here at MSU that is different from a lot of places. Everybody notices it and I hear it all the time. It’s been 10 years, and we’ve been building a culture in my time here where we have that now, and she really adds a lot to that, especially being actually from Mississippi.” Meredith is aiming to have a winning record this season and, like the rest of the team, hopes to make it to the sweet 16, something the team has never done before. Meredith said her
favorite thing about tennis is that it is individual—all the responsibility is on one’s shoulders for an excellent performance. However, she loves the team aspect of playing tennis in college, something she says is unique in the world. “I like how it’s individual, it’s all on you. You don’t have anyone else to blame. Everything is going to be on you,” Meredith said. “But then I like how in college it’s a team aspect, too. Your match is on you, but it’s also the team atmosphere that I like a lot. That’s why all these girls from these other countries come and play, because it’s just that much fun and there’s nothing like it anywhere else in the world.”
Roberts plays on her home court HANNAH BLANKENSHIP STAFF WRITER
For Mississippi State University tennis player Meredith Roberts, Mississippi and tennis have been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. Meredith is the MSU women’s tennis team’s first in-state player since the 2015 season, and the only American currently on the squad. Stan Roberts, Meredith’s father and the tennis team’s volunteer assistant coach, said not many high-quality tennis players come out of Mississippi, so to do so is quite an accomplishment. “What’s special is when you can come out of Mississippi with success,” Stan said. “We’re not only one of the poorest states in the union, but we’re one of the poorest tennis states in the union as well.” Meredith said she was excited to play college tennis in Mississippi because it was such a unique challenge to achieve such a high level of play growing up in the state. “It’s kind of fun playing for Mississippi because not a lot of people come out of it,” Meredith said. “It was really hard when I was younger though because there weren’t a lot of people to play with.” Her father said the lack of quality tennis players coming from Mississippi was apparent at many of the tournaments Meredith played in growing up. “All these players, they’re from California and Florida and etc., and then ‘Jackson, Mississippi,’ just doesn’t sound like maybe you’re in the right place possibly, so there’s
a lot of pride coming out of Mississippi and doing well,” Stan said. Born to two parents who met each other playing tennis in college, Meredith started playing tennis at the early age of 4 years old. “My whole life revolved around tennis when I was younger,” Meredith said. “I played my first tournament when I was 7... I’ve loved it since such a young age.” She began taking lessons with her sister, and then started playing more once she discovered she liked it. Meredith came out very strong in the 12s and 14s age groups, earning the bronze ball in 14s hard courts in the Peachtree City Junior Championships. After that, while she would have competed in the under 16 age group, Meredith hit a bit of a lull in her playing. She changed coaches and went to Randy Pate Tennis Academy in North Carolina. “Randy reenergized her and got her back going again,” her father said. “We jumped right into 18s. She had a lot of success in 18s and got back on track.” In high school at Jackson Academy, where her mom was the head tennis coach, Meredith had great success and won four state tennis championships. From there, she signed with Texas Christian University as a 5-star player and the no. 1 recruit out of Mississippi. After her freshman year at TCU, Meredith transferred to her home state of Mississippi to play for the MSU’s women’s team. Head coach Daryl
Greenan said he was excited to have a player from Mississippi join their team. “It’s pretty cool that she ended up here,” Greenan said. “We were very excited that we have a Mississippi girl.” Of greater importance than where she is from, Greenan said Meredith is a very strong player with lots of heart. “She’s just a gamer,” Greenan said. “She’s a tricky player, and she brings that in doubles and singles. She’s a little bit unorthodox, she’ll mix in high balls as good as anybody, which is effective. She makes you beat her.” Meredith said her personal philosophy has always been about giving 100 percent. “Never walk away from a match thinking I could’ve done more, could’ve put more effort in, because that’s just the worst feeling to have,” Meredith said. This philosophy comes in part from her dad, who coached her growing up, to always work harder than everybody else. “His philosophy was that you’ve got to outwork them. Honestly, it was like a military academy,” Meredith said. “It was very strict, and as far as your character too, if you let up at all… if you had a bad attitude or missed something… or did not try, he would just say, ‘Alright, hit the track and run until I tell you to stop.’ He just tried to outwork everyone.” Meredith adds a lot to the team dynamic, supporting her teammates with a smile on her face no matter whether she is playing or not, her father said. Not only is Meredith the only player from Mississippi
Rosalind Hutton
on the team, she’s the only player from the U.S. on the team. Other players come from five different countries, making team communication challenging at times. However, Meredith sees this not as a challenge, but as an opportunity. “Being the only American is kind of fun. I’m special because no one ever gets the opportunity to just hang out with girls from five different countries,” Meredith said. “You really get to see all the different perspectives and outlooks from each of the girls.” Greenan said Meredith fits right in with the family feel of the team, a dynamic unique to MSU.
Column: MSU can make tournament for first time in a decade WILL LARSEN
is a senior majoring in Agribusiness . Contact him at sports@reflector. msstate.edu
The Mississippi State University men’s basketball team is right on track for an NCAA Tournament berth, despite a few weeks of winning and losing ranked conference games. MSU, who has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2009, has done enough
in the non-conference schedule and in conference play so far to stay in the latest projections for who is “dancing” in March. Freshmen Reggie Perry and Robert Woodard II have emerges as leaders for the Bulldogs, the former working his way into the starting five. Lamar Peters has proven himself as one of the best point guards in the SEC, while Quinndary Weatherspoon may be the best x-factor in the SEC. Anyone at the second half of the University of Kentucky basketball game in Starkville saw the best half of basketball this team has played all season. Despite
losing, it makes no sense why there is so much negativity surrounding a program having its best season in over seven years. Mississippi State is ranked in the top 30 of the KPI, NET, and the RPI which are the rankings the NCAA uses to determine the field of 68 Tournament teams. According to John Gasaway of ESPN.com, Mississippi State is “a team that’s being envisioned as a No. 7 seed.” Gasaway has MSU as one of three SEC Teams that “should be in” along with Ole Miss and Auburn. This is a team that is about to go on a late February and
March run. This is the time where it matters to play your best basketball. Basketball and baseball are games of streaks, unlike football where every game matters. The 2018 MSU baseball team ended their season as one of the top four teams in the NCAA when everyone in early May questioned their chances of even being one of the top 64 teams. They went on a streak to knock off the No. 1 University of Florida late in the season, along with MSU winning their way to Omaha after being down to their last strike against Florida State University in the regional. The rest is history.
The same thing can happen with this team. They are a dark horse to win the SEC Tournament in Nashville and can surprise a few teams in the NCAA Tournament. Do not discount the big wins MSU already has this season, as they have beaten Clemson, Dayton, Ole Miss, Auburn, Saint Mary’s, Wofford, Florida and Cincinnati. With the 12th toughest schedule in the country, they currently have more wins than they did in the entirety of five of their last six seasons. This team has shown they can win the big games and are set to win many more.
The Bulldogs do not have to face another ranked opponent until March. Which means this is now the perfect opportunity to add to the win total. This program also deserves to draw large crowds for the rest of the season because they have played so well. The big games coming up are the University of South Carolina on Feb. 23, the University of Missouri on Feb. 26 and Texas A&M University on March 9. These are the last three home games for this team, and MSU could win all three to safely secure their spot in the NCAA tournament or the “Big Dance.”.